College of Arts and Sciences

A total of 120 semester hours is required for graduation. One full year of work (30 credits) must have been done in residence and the last 15 credits for the degree must have been done in residence unless the dean of the college permits an exception. A candidate must have an honor point average of 2.25 in advanced courses (numbered 300 and above) in the major field of specialization and must have an overall honor point average of 2.0 to graduate.

To provide flexibility for programs in the Bachelor of Science degree, students are provided the following options:

Standard Option

A departmental major (usually 34-36 hours) and a departmental minor (usually 21-24 hours) or a broad field major (usually 56-60 hours).

Individualized Interdisciplinary Option

A special program of studies intelligently arranged around the particular academic and professional needs of the student. It generally consists of the core of a major along with an interdepartmental grouping of courses in a minor reflecting a career/learning focus for a minimum total of 60 credit hours. Designed in consultation with the student's adviser before beginning the junior year, it must be submitted to and approved by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at that time. The proposed program is accompanied by a letter from the student justifying the purposes of the program in relation to the student's needs and a letter of validation from the adviser.

Professional Option

A broad program of studies basic to later professional work. A student transferring at the conclusion of the junior year to a professional school may have a part of the work in the professional school applied toward the senior year for the bachelor's degree. Details must be worked out by the student and the adviser and approved by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences before the junior year. A Dual Degree-Physics, Chemistry and Engineering is available

Internships in the College of Arts And Sciences

The Internship Program offers the student a number of opportunities for earning credit in work and training off campus and on campus. This internship is open to those students who have completed at least 60 credits of course work. Internships may be arranged for up to 12 undergraduate credits in the student's major or minor field, depending upon departmental allowances. Credits may be earned all in one semester or summer, but in no more than two academic terms, two credits being the minimum for any one internship; some departments have a higher credit minimum. The internship courses are numbered 379.

A sophomore level internship course, numbered 279, is also offered by many departments. These internships are identified as "introductory professional work experiences."

The fee schedule for the interning student will be the same as the fee schedule for an on-campus student. Each department, with the approval of the Dean of the College, will decide the appropriate number of hours for each internship, according to the level of the work experience in relation to upper division courses, the extent of work involved and the relationship of the work to professional academic pursuits. Individual departments will determine if internship programs can substitute for required courses in the major or minor field. A minimum number of 45 work experience hours per week for the semester is required for 12 credits.

Internship proposals may be initiated by the student, the major or minor department or off-campus agencies. Planning with the academic adviser for an internship should precede the semester in which the proposal is submitted. Some applications for an internship should be submitted to the department chair for approval while other applications should be submitted to the dean of the college for approval at least six weeks prior to the intended start of the internship, after its first having been processed and approved by the faculty adviser and department chairperson. Students must register for the internship credits during the semester the internship is conducted in order to receive credit.? The work supervisor and faculty adviser will evaluate the student's experience. The department will require additional evaluation, the methods to be worked out between the student and his/her faculty adviser within the guidelines of the college. A summary written by the student is submitted to the dean along with the two evaluations prior to the submission of a grade

Independent Study and Directed Readings

In accordance with university policy, the College of Arts and Sciences offers independent study through most departments. Additionally, most departments offer courses in directed readings. Independent Study (numbered 499) is defined as an individually designed topic or course of study or unstructured research to meet the needs of a student. Directed Readings (numbered 490) is a course that is generally prescribed as to its content, materials and activities; it may be used to instruct students in the materials of a given course when that course is taken out of sequence or individually, but under the direction of an instructor.

Students will be limited to nine credit hours of independent study course work and nine credit hours of directed readings but with a combined maximum of 12 credit hours within the 120-credit degree program. Individual departmental courses of study may allow fewer such credits than this maximum for their majors or minors. From one to three credits may be taken in each of these courses in a given semester, depending upon departmental requirements and availability. Students should plan for such courses with their major adviser. Application for independent study or directed readings must be processed through the department chairperson for approval of the course proposal and assignment of a faculty adviser

College Interdepartmental Offerings

Interdepartmental courses are typically identified by and listed in the departments which offer them, such as, BIOL/CHEM 343 - Microtechniques and Electron Microscopy or ENGL/GEOG/HIST 385 - Interdisciplinary Seminar on the American Frontier.